Improvement in safety-stirrups for saddles



UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

' THEODORE HARRIS, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN SAFETV-STIRRUPS FOR SADDLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 148,82 1, dated March 24, 1874; application filed March 2, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THEODORE HARRIS, of Cleveland, in the county of Guyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and Improved Safety Stirrup for Saddles; and I do hereby declare that the following is ai'ull, clear, and complete description'thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawin gs making part of the same.

Figure 1 is a side view of the stirrup. Fig. 2 is a vertical section. Fig. 3 is an end view. Fig. 4 is an edge view.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several views.

This invention is a saddle-stirrup, and the object thereof is to prevent the riders foot from being caught or entangled therein in the event of accident from falling off the horse, the construction of the stirrup being such that the foot-rest or bar will open and allow the foot to escape therefrom.

The abovespecifierl stirrup consists of the bow or frame A. The inside of each of the sides B is worked out, forming a chamber or recess, 0, Fig. 2, in the bottom of which is secured a spring, D, at the point a. Each of the chambered sides is covered by a supplementary side, E E, which fit loosely on over the outside of the sides, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The supplementary sides are pivoted to the sides of the stirrup at the points 1), whereas the lower ends are left free to move in direction of the cross-bar or foot-rest F. Said foot-rest or bar F is pivoted to the end of the supplementary side'E, at o, and thereby supported. The opposite end of the bar is supported by the supplementary side E by a rib, G, Fig. 2, projecting from the end of the bar into a mortise made in the end of the supplementary side, as shown in said Fig. 2. 0n the inside of each of the supplementary sides is a rib, H, Fig. 2, against which the springs D rest for forcing the sides E E away from. the sides of the stirrup, so that the foot-rest may be made to engage the side E, as shown in the drawing.

The practical operation of the above described stirrup is as follows: It is secured to the saddle by means of straps in the ordinary way. The rider places his foot in the stirrup, resting it upon the bar F. So long as the weight or pressure of the foot is directly downward upon the footrest or bar F it will remain in place. In the event any sudden strain should be exerted upon the sides of the stirrup by the foot becoming twisted therein, the supplementary sides will yield to such pressure and move back, thereby allowing the end of the foot-rest to withdraw from the side, and drop down, asindicated by the dotted lines 0, Fig. 1, which will release the foot from the stirrup. By this means a person on falling from a horse will not have his foot caught or entangled in the stirrup, and be dragged along thereby, as the foot or feet will slip from the stirrup, in consequence of the spreading apart of the supplementary sides E E and the falling down of the rest, thereby insuring entire safety from such accidents.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The herein-described safety-stirrup, consisting of the frame A, in the sides of which are chambers O, springs D, supplementary sides E E, and foot-rest F, constructed and arranged in the manner as set forth, and for the purpose specified.

THEODORE HARRIS.

Witnesses W. H. BURRIDGE, M. R. BURTON. 

